a6000 battery drain: Lots written about battery drain, so I did a little non-scientific experiment to test drain. Battery is 7 months old. Charged to 100%. Camera was turned on twice...

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Lots written about battery drain, so I did a little non-scientific experiment to test drain. Battery is 7 months old. Charged to 100%. Camera was turned on twice each day for less than 15 seconds to check.
After 24 hrs - 100%
" 48 hrs - 99%
" 36 hrs - 95%
" 48 hrs - 92%
" 72 hrs - 88%

Here is a link for those that wish to know more about Li-Ion batteries and they do use some comparative data for Ni Cad and Lead-acid batteries. Yes, I did have some time on my hands this week. lol

http://batteryuniversity.com

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

sirlensalot wrote:

Lots written about battery drain, so I did a littl... (show quote)

48 hrs - 99%, 48 hrs - 92%? What are you trying to say?

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Sony batteries have a chip that ESTIMATES the remaining charge based on previous use.

He is saying that after 24 hours of sitting, a 100% full battery now reports that it has 99% charge left. After 48 hours it is down to 92%.

That first 48 is probably a typo, inferred from the 24 hour periodicity between sample points. ;)

Keep in mind that these readings are only estimates. The infolithium system Sony uses is good, but usually on the conservative side.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

So you were checking battery drain when the camera was NOT used? There is some sort of point to this?

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

MT Shooter wrote:

So you were checking battery drain when the camera was NOT used? There is some sort of point to this?

The camera was not used other than for the test. It remained on a desk unused except turn on and off to check remaining power.
Yes, the point is there have been a lot of posts complaining of battery drain, so after learning Li-Ion batteries are prone to this, just wanted members to know this is normal for this type of battery and that there nothing wrong with the camera or battery. Fair enough?

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

sirlensalot wrote:

Lots written about battery drain ...

Much of the writing about Lithium-ion batteries is in user's manuals. Nikon Df, page 337: "Remove the battery from the camera or charger when not in use ... These devices draw minute amounts of charge even when turned off ... "
And the instructions for any Nickel-Metal-Hydride batteries I've used state that they lose charge even when not in use.
More meaningful information on battery life would be how many exposures a particular camera will take with a fresh battery. This is also given in the user's manual, but there are too many variables for it to be very specific.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

CHOLLY wrote:

Sony batteries have a chip that ESTIMATES the remaining charge based on previous use.

He is saying that after 24 hours of sitting, a 100% full battery now reports that it has 99% charge left. After 48 hours it is down to 92%.

That first 48 is probably a typo, inferred from the 24 hour periodicity between sample points. ;)

Keep in mind that these readings are only estimates. The infolithium system Sony uses is good, but usually on the conservative side.

Good catch, yes it was a typo. Sorry about that.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

sirlensalot wrote:

The camera was not used other than for the test. It remained on a desk unused except turn on and off to check remaining power.
Yes, the point is there have been a lot of posts complaining of battery drain, so after learning Li-Ion batteries are prone to this, just wanted members to know this is normal for this type of battery and that there nothing wrong with the camera or battery. Fair enough?

Now I understand your effort. Yes, all L-I batteries lose charge while isle, but the loss is not high. Turning on and off of the camera like you did costs a lot more battery power than the idle time loss in your test. Thats one of the faults of the Sonys, seriously high battery usage due to the dual EVF's and the power hungry start-up procedure. My A7's get 300 or less shots per charge, while my Nikons get 2500 or more shots per charge. The power consumption has long been a problem with all the Sony mirrorless designs.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

RWR wrote:

Much of the writing about Lithium-ion batteries is... (show quote)

He was addressing a specific concern that has been the topic of recent discussions here on UHH. The issue of usage is different from the topic of this thread. ;)

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

MT Shooter wrote:

Now I understand your effort. Yes, all L-I batteri... (show quote)

^^^EVF's are EXTREMELY power hungry... at least at this stage of the technology.

Sony deserves some criticism for not developing higher capacity storage cells, but they counter that the increased size would negate some of the weight advantages mirrorless cameras hold over DSLRS. I think the problem is somewhat overstated, because the batteries are easily replaced and contain enough energy for a decent number of shots... even with flash. They are also cheap enough to buy several to have spares in reserve.

I frequently shoot 4-500 shots in a session with my Sony hybrid SLT cameras without having to change batteries... but I have vertical grips with the spare built in and always a couple on standby for all day events like music concerts and air shows.

I don't get 1000+ shots off a charge like I did with my DSLR's but that was different technology and my expectations have been adjusted accordingly. ;) ESPECIALLY since I get a high definition, high information EVF in the trade. That in itself makes the slight inconvenience of fewer shots... completely worth it. :mrgreen:

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

CHOLLY wrote:

He was addressing a specific concern that has been the topic of recent discussions here on UHH. The issue of usage is different from the topic of this thread. ;)

That clears it up! Thanks. :)

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

MT Shooter wrote:

Now I understand your effort. Yes, all L-I batteri... (show quote)

MT, I have to admit confusion on the advertised shots for ILC's in general and specifically, my a6000. I did two sports events with an a6000 and was able to get several times the advertised amount of shots using jpeg, no flash. Just found the large discrepancies between advertised and actual shots interesting. All I know is to make sure I have spares no matter what I use or what event I am going to. lol

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

I know that none of my batteries have ever let me down... not yet that is. (Knock on wood...)

plessner Loc: North Dakota

I have a question about my Sony A65--are you saying that if I am using it say like at a ball game or family gathering shooting a few pics every once in a while am I using more battery power turning it off and on between shots than I would be if I just left it on?

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

^^^Yes.

Go into the menu and set your desired sleep time. The camera will automatically go into sleep mode (so long as nothing passes in front of the eyepiece sensor to keep it awake).

Once your time is set all you have to do is tap the shutter button to turn it back on... without the systems checks or sensor cleaning. Much less of a power drain.